Pulverizing-machine.



PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

S. HUGHES.

PULVERIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

NO MODEL.

/1V Vii/V TOR z I l L 4 PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

S. HUGHES.

PULVERIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1903.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT 2.

NO MODEL.

m T m V N A llorney UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT QEEICE.

PULVERIZING-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,787, dated December 20, 1904. Application filed June 11,1903. Serial No. 161,111.

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HUGHES, a resident of Summerville, in the county of Dorchester and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulverizing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved pulverizing-machine; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combina tions and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation, partly in section, illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section illustrating the screenclearing mechanism. Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating my improved feed-regulatinghopper.

1 represents the hollow circular bed-plate of the machine, supporting bowed standards 2, connected at their upper ends by a bar 3 and below the same by an intermediate bar 4. The drive-shaft 5 is supported in alined bearings in the bars 3 and 4 and has an annular shoulder or ring 6 thereon, supported in a cup 7 on bar 4 to support the weight of the grinding mechanism and relieve the upper bar 3 of the same, and a driving-pulley 8 is secured on this shaft 5 between bars 3 and 4 and is adapted to receive motion from a belt driven from any desired source of power.

A horizontal ring 8 is secured upon the upper edge of a cylindrical casing 9, which latter is secured to and supported upon bed-plate 1, and in said casing at its lower end a pan 10 is supported and spaced from the casing, forming outlets 11 for the pulverized material after it has passed through a cylindrical screen 12, secured at its lower end to pan 10 and at its upper end to the ring and providing an annular outlet-chamber around the screen and between the same and easing 9.

On the lower end of drive-shaft 5 the driving-disk 13 is secured and mounted to turn in the ring 8 and in horizontal alinement therewith. This driving-disk 13 is provided at diametrically opposite points with openings to receive the roll-shaft bearing sleeves or cylinders 14, and said disk is also provided with bearings 15 for the trunnions 16 on opposite sides of said sleeves.

The rolls 28 run against the grinding-ring 33 and pulverize material which escapes through the screen 12. In fine grinding the screen is liable to become choked if the moisture in the material is considerable, owing to fine damp material adhering to the wires. I/Vhen this occurs, the capacity of the mill is reduced, and unless the screen is soon cleared the output of the mill will be practically nothing. Ordinarily to clear the screen the casing of the mill must be removed and the screen beaten or brushed until the mesh is clear. This of course causes loss of time. In order to prevent choking of the screen or to clear it rapidly when choked, I provide heaters 34, consisting of yielding cushions between the screen and easing provided with rods or stems 35, which project through guides or bearings 36, attached to the casing. By striking the outer ends of these stems the cushions are caused to impinge upon the screen with sufficient force to jar or shake it and cause the adhering particles to fall and leave the mesh clear. The yielding nature of the cushions prevents damage to the screen. The beaters are located around the mill at intervals, as many being provided as desired, and the cushions, as shown, are made of wire somewhat in the form of a spiral spring; but any suitable form of cushion may be employed.

The feed-hopper 37 rests upon and is secured to the upper portion of the casing or top ring 8 and has a spout 38 extending down inside the screen. A telescoping spout 39 is made to fit loosely around the hopper-spout 38, so that it may be moved up and down thereon when desired. A handle 40 is secured to this telescoping spout 39 and extends up outside of the casing in convenient reach of the operator to permit him to readily adjust the spout. This handle 40 is made with a series of holes 41 to receive in any one of which apin 42 and secure the telescoping spout in any position, and the rear wall of said hopper-spout is made with a downward extension or tongue 42 of the same width as the internal width of spout 39 to guide the latter and hold it true. It has been found by actual test that with the use of the telescoping spout the amount or quantity of material in the mill can be regulated and controlled by fixing the end of the hopper-spout at any desired level above the grinding-ring, that the material will not rise above the end of the spout, and consequently choking of the mill can be entirely prevented by fixing the end of the spout at the proper height above the grindingring. Choking is one of the most frequent causes of accident in'mills of this type, since if the mill be overcrowded the driving-belt must either slip or cause a breakdown. Furthermore, it is well known that unless the material is kept at the proper height above the grinding-ring the mill will not give out its full capacity, that if the material falls below its proper height the capacity will be lessened, and if it rises above the proper level the mill will run hard, incline to choke, and will absorb power without corresponding benefit. Now just what height above the grinding-ring is best cannot well be determined without trial, and to hold the material at this height is the problem the operator tries to solve. By making the spout adjustable it may be set as desired from time to time experimentally until the best point is reached. This may be done without difficulty and while the machine is in operation. Again, if the material is very hard or damp less should be carried in the mill, and this vis regulated with the same case and facility as when testing the mill to ascertain the correct position of the hopper-spout, as above set forth.

A great many changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my inven tion, and hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A feed-hopper for grinding or pulverizing machines and the like, comprisinga hopper having a fixed spout, an adjustable spout telescoping. on the fixed spout, a longitudinal extension depending from the fixed spout to guide the adjustable spout, and means for securing the adjustable spout at any level.

2. In a pulveriZing-machine, the combination with a screen through which pulverized material escapes, of beater-s having cushioning portions, said cushioning portions disposed to directly engage the screen when forced inward.

3. In a pnlverizing-machine, the combination with a screen through which pulverized material escapes, and a casing around the screen and spaced therefrom, of heaters mounted in hearings in said casing and comprising rods or stems freely movable longitudinally in the bearings in the casing, and cushioned or yielding enlargements on the inner ends of the stems disposed to directly engage the screen when the stems are forced inward.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL HUGHES.

Witnesses: 1

R. M. MODERMID, L. R. FITZSIMONS. 

